Traditional treatments for interstitial lung disease (ILD) typically include:
Medications:
Corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) to reduce inflammation.
Immunosuppressants (e.g. azathioprine, cyclophosphamide) to suppress the immune system.
Anti-fibrotic drugs like nintedanib (Ofev) and pirfenidone (Esbriet) to slow lung scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Antacids to manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Oxygen therapy: To improve blood oxygen levels, ease breathing, and enhance quality of life.
Pulmonary rehabilitation: Includes exercise programs, breathing techniques, nutritional counseling, and psychological support.
Smoking cessation.
Avoiding lung irritants.
Following a healthy diet.
Surgery: Lung transplantation may be considered for severe cases that don't respond to other treatments.
Supportive care: Treatments to manage symptoms like cough medications.
Specific treatment approaches for ILD depend upon the underlying cause and severity of the ILD. Treatment goals are typically to slow disease progression, improve quality of life, and in some cases, reverse the effects of ILD. Many patients receive a combination of these treatments as part of a comprehensive management plan.
As a complement to traditional ILD treatments, Regenesis offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) due to HBOT’s important anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and immunomodulation properties. These and other properties of HBOT work in support of traditional treatments to suppress inflammation and immune response, support tissue oxygenation, slow fibrosis, and fend off opportunistic respiratory infections that may arise with ILD. HBOT has the potential to slow disease progression and support ILD patient quality of life through several potential mechanisms of action:
Reduced inflammation: HBOT has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects with the potential to help reduce lung inflammation associated with ILD.
Improved oxygenation: By delivering high concentrations of oxygen under pressure, HBOT can significantly increase oxygen levels in the blood and tissues, potentially improving oxygenation in damaged lung tissue.
Fibroblast inhibition: HBOT may help inhibit fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix production, which are key processes in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.
Downregulation of TGF-ß and HIF-1a: HBOT has been found to downregulate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1a), both of which play important roles in fibrosis development.
Enhanced tissue repair: The increased oxygen levels provided by HBOT can promote tissue repair and regeneration, potentially helping to heal damaged lung tissue. HBOT also can mobilize stem cells and cause stem cells to implant in damaged tissue. Through this mechanism, HBOT can foster lung tissue repair and regeneration. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), that comprise a share of total autologous stem cells mobilized by HBOT have immunomodulatory properties that can reduce inflammation in the lungs. They also have the potential to secrete anti-inflammatory mediators and modulate a patient’s immune response to create a favorable environment for tissue healing.
Improved exercise capacity: Studies have shown that oxygen therapy in general can increase exercise capacity in patients with ILD affording potential quality of life improvements.
